Here are a few recommendations for eating out based on our own experiences. We will add to the list as we go along. We would welcome feedback or recommendations for other places to eat so feel free to drop us an email with your suggestions.
Ludlow
Ludlow has a wealth of cafés and restaurants including some Michelin starred establishments all within a short walk from the centre so definitely worth exploring. Here are a few places that we have been:
Ludlow Farm Shop Complex
Bromfield, Ludlow, SY8 2YR
Not quite in the centre, Ludlow Farm Shop is a large complex of building with plenty of parking just outside Ludlow. You can’t really miss it! Consists of a farm shop selling local specialities, a large café, a takeaway when you need to grab a decent coffee and cake, outdoor seating areas and a hotel with a restaurant called The Clive Arms https://www.theclive.co.uk/eat-drink/our-menus/
The farm shop is lovely if you want to treat yourself to something a bit different or for gifts to take home at the end of your holiday.
We have eaten in the café at lunchtime: menu is your standard sandwiches, jacket potatoes, lunch specials etc but done very well and the portions are generous. A nice touch is that they aim to source food as locally as possible to cut down on food miles.
It is also open from 8 am for breakfast. Guests have been for breakfast and highly recommended whether you fancy a full English or something a little lighter. Be warned – it is extremely popular especially at the weekend so get there in good time or be prepared to wait for a table!
We haven’t eaten at The Clive Arms but it does appear to have a good reputation. Dishes are at the pricier end of the market. It is also open for Sunday Lunch. Booking advised for the restaurant.
Sourced Pizza
2 Quality Street, Ludlow, SY8 1AR
https://www.sourcedpizza.co.uk/
Amazing pizza place down an alley just off the main square. We have eaten here a couple of times now and can’t rave about their pizzas enough. Their ethos is all about sourcing the best ingredients as locally as they can and the provenance of their ingredients is all over the menu.
Pizzas are delicious with some really unusual toppings – Fruit & Nut anyone – as well as some more usual ones for those who are slightly less adventurous. Prices are reasonable and pizzas come in 2 sizes – handy for those with smaller appetites. Vegetarians and vegans are well catered for and the staff are knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to dietary requirements.
CSONS at The Green Café Ludlow
The Mill on the Green, Linney, Ludlow SY8 1EG
Run by the same people as Sourced Pizza with the same philosophy to use locally sourced, seasonal, quality ingredients as much as possible.
Situated a short walk from the castle on the banks of the river in a beautiful setting. We have visited on a few occasions now – always been delicious and something a bit different to the norm and highly recommend. Open from 9 am until 4 am for breakfast and lunch. You can also get a takeaway from the hatch if fancy a picnic by the river or if the cafe is full. They are also have a late night opening on Friday nights until 10 pm. Watch out for their themed nights as well. Plenty of choices for vegetarians and vegans. They also have a second branch in the centre of Shrewsbury.
Bill’s Kitchen Ludlow
1 Mill St, Ludlow SY8 1AZ
https://www.billskitchen.uk/ludlow.html
Situated in the former Assembly Rooms by the castle, which also house an art house cinema, gallery space and theatre. This is run by Bill Sewell, a well-known restauranter and is open from 8 am until 4 pm for breakfast and lunch with an all day brunch menu on Sundays. They also run monthly jazz/folk music nights and well as Monday “food and film” nights in conjunction with the cinema. Food is a little bit different and freshly made. Again, caters well for all diets with menu clearly labelled and helpful staff.
Thai Box Takeaway
4 Upper Galdeford, Ludlow SY8 1QD
http://www.thaiboxtakeaway.co.uk/
Decent Thai takeaway that we’ve used a few times whilst renovating the chapel. They have an extensive menu with something to suit everyone whether a meat or fish lover or a vegetarian/vegan. They are closed Mondays but open from 5 pm the rest of the week. Ring up your order and collect in person. They won’t deliver to the chapel. Warning: food comes in those white cardboard boxes you see in American movies – they are not leakproof in the slightest as we found out so take a strong carrier bag with you!
Chang Thai Bar & Restaurant
3 Market Street, Ludlow SY8 1BP
Situated through an archway just off the market square in what feels like an old coaching inn. There is a bar on one side of the arch and a warm, welcoming restaurant on the other. Like all Thai restaurants, they have a large menu catering for all diets. The appetiser sharing platters are definitely recommended. They have a good selection of Thai style curries and stir fry dishes. We found the portion sizes to be good. Food wasn’t particularly spicy so if you like it hot you might want to ask for extra chilli! Lovely atmosphere and attentive staff. Worth checking website for opening times as does vary a bit depending on going for lunch or an evening meal. Top tip: we have managed to nab a free parking spot in the market square in the evening which turns into a car park. Handy for all the central Ludlow restaurants.
Round and about the area
The Spice Empire
17 High St, Cleobury Mortimer DY14 8DG
Lovely Indian restaurant around 20 mins drive from the Chapel on the pretty high street of Cleobury Mortimer. The interior is inviting and contemporary with lots of rustic wood panelling, dark green walls and foliage. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable and clearly proud of their restaurant and food. Our waiter guided us through the menu, making suggestions and even threw in a complimentary side of dhal that he stated was a “must try” – he was right. Food was excellent, freshly cooked, plentiful and that little bit different to the usual fare. We went on a Saturday night and the restaurant was full so booking advisable. Parking is free all along the high street in an evening and fairly easy to find a spot further down and walk a few mins back up the hill.
The Maltings Café
12 High St, Clun, Craven Arms SY7 8JB
http://www.themaltingscafeclun.co.uk/
Recommended by my lovely Mum and Dad who have been here countless times, The Maltings is a café situated in the pretty village of Clun, around 40 mins from the chapel. Clun is worth a visit – it’s full of charm with a stream running through the middle and a ruined castle overlooking the village. The café is open from 10 am until 4 pm for breakfast or lunch with a menu offering hot and cold dishes, done well, with decent portions and reasonable prices. I am told that they have a large choice of delicious soups. The coffee and cakes in particular are very good.
The Pheasant at Neenton
Neenton, Bridgnorth WV16 6RJ
https://pheasantatneenton.co.uk/
Recommended by our property manager as well as guests, this is a community owned and run pub situated in a pretty setting about a 15 min drive from Stoke St Milborough. They have an interesting looking restaurant menu focusing on meat and fish dishes with prices to reflect the fine dining end of the market. They also do Sunday lunch. Booking advisable.
Fishmore Hall Hotel & Boutique Spa
Fishmore Rd, Ludlow SY8 3DP
https://www.fishmorehall.co.uk/
Fishmore Hall is a hotel and spa with a restaurant open to non-residents for either lunch or dinner. Situated within a 15 min drive from the chapel, it offers a fine dining A La Carte Menu. However, for something a little different, there is a Tasting menu with wine pairing as an option. They offer a Classic and a Vegetarian Tasting menu which they are more than happy to adapt to different dietary requirements if you speak to them when booking. We have eaten here for a special occasion. The food was delicious, the service impeccable and it was a memorable evening.
National Trust Cafés
It’s worth noting that there are a number of National Trust Properties in the area (see our guide), all with cafés which we’ve generally found reliable for a bite to eat. In particular, the National Trust café at Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd is a perfect place for refuelling after a walk in the area and is set in a beautiful location.